England 2024/25

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

I haven't seen anything from Dombrandt that would indicate he belongs at this level.

He made a couple decent steals/ruck wins today, but agreed in so far that he is obviously not being allowed to play his style, and if that's the case, why pick him?

He's a very specific type of 8, and which works in a team setup to allow him to do that

 

[BrokenWing]

Matt Dawson says England were great for 65 minutes.

I'm not sure if he just means today.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, but if Underhill, CCS and Martin can't play 60 minutes how do you sub them all off or who stays on?

Why can't Underhill?

 

[Which Tyler]

Yeah, but if Underhill, CCS and Martin can't play 60 minutes how do you sub them all off or who stays on?

They all can, they just need to pace themselves differently, which makes them less effective.
The question is how much less effective, what the alternatives are, and whether theyrey worth it anyway.

Personally, I'd have Curry, Underhill, Willis in the backrow, or Hill at 6 if we want to play as if Chessum was there, with CCS or Earl on the bench.
But then, I'd also have tried to keep an actual international level coach in the coaching team for more than 1 international window.

 

[Reiser99]

Why can't Underhill?

Because I can't remember the last time he did play 80 minutes.

They all can, they just need to pace themselves differently, which makes them less effective.
The question is how much less effective, what the alternatives are, and whether theyrey worth it anyway.

Personally, I'd have Curry, Underhill, Willis in the backrow, or Hill at 6 if we want to play as if Chessum was there, with CCS or Earl on the bench.
But then, I'd also have tried to keep an actual international level coach in the coaching team for more than 1 international window.

True, but will the drop of be too big?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Shame there's not a week's break for some of the 'A' team to put their hands up

 

[Reiser99]

Matt Dawson says England were great for 65 minutes.

I'm not sure if he just means today.

Yeah, he's chatting ****.

 

[Which Tyler]

Because I can't remember the last time he did play 80 minutes.

True, but will the drop of be too big?

RWC this time last year.
Currently, I'd say yes for CCS, no for Underhill and Martin.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

England v Australia player ratings: Joseph Sua’ali’i and Angus Bell star for Wallabies

Rugby union debutant gave a standout performance as England were agonisingly denied by Australia thanks to a last-gasp Max Jorgensen try

www.telegraph.co.uk

England
Furbank - 5/10
Feyi - Waboso - 5/10
Lawrence - 6/10
Slade - 4/10
Freeman - 5/10
Smith - 8/20
Spencer - 5/10
Genge - 6/10
George - 6/10
Stuart - 6/10
Itoje - 6/10
Martin - 5/10
Cunningham - South - 7/10
Curry - 6/10
Earl - 5/10
Sleightholme - 5/10

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

England v Australia player ratings: Joseph Sua’ali’i and Angus Bell star for Wallabies

Rugby union debutant gave a standout performance as England were agonisingly denied by Australia thanks to a last-gasp Max Jorgensen try

www.telegraph.co.uk

England
Furbank - 5/10
Feyi - Waboso - 5/10
Lawrence - 6/10
Slade - 4/10
Freeman - 5/10
Smith - 8/20
Spencer - 5/10
Genge - 6/10
George - 6/10
Stuart - 6/10
Itoje - 6/10
Martin - 5/10
Cunningham - South - 7/10
Curry - 6/10
Earl - 5/10
Sleightholme - 5/10

Quins carrying as usual

 

[Geordie]

Not many can defend SB now...and that post match interview ....thought he was going to cry...

 

[Geordie]

Quins carrying as usual

Dombrandt 3

 

[Abraxaz]

Borthwick is the quintessential poster boy for jobs for the boys.

Man is out of his depth in a car park puddle.

England will lose to South Africa putting his win rate below 50%

Japan will be looking at us as a possible scalp.

Six nations starts off with Ireland away, France home and Scotland… we are going to be bent over and sodemised if we carry on playing like this

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

ill start the SB out camp. I saw the pattern with Eddie and was alone in beating the drum until everyone else joined the bandwagon and then it was too late.

SB out, couldn't coach if his life depended on it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I saw the pattern with Eddie and was alone in beating the drum

Absolute lie, I remember the two of us taking a beating from the "we're winning ugly and that's all that matters" brigade

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Absolute lie, I remember the two of us taking a beating from the "we're winning ugly and that's all that matters" brigade

Sorry, forgot we were brother in arms on this occasion.

How you thinking about SB now?

Could he improve as a coach…yes but will he?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Didn't rate him, don't rate him
Think he could improve but like @LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan) said: he's been rushed in way above his experience level, and I can't see him doing it now especially while surrounded by green coaches too

If I were the RFU I'd probably be making plans to bin him, but I wouldn't be rushing into it because they need to get the right people in (no idea who) rather than sacking him and then scrabbling around for whoever's available afterwards
If he's not gone by end of next year then keep him until after the RWC - might be a **** show but dropping someone in to the final stages of RWC prep isn't good, better to just let Borthwick have his time and then draw a line under it afterwards

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Didn't rate him, don't rate him
Think he could improve but like @LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan) said: he's been rushed in way above his experience level, and I can't see him doing it now especially while surrounded by green coaches too

If I were the RFU I'd probably be making plans to bin him, but I wouldn't be rushing into it because they need to get the right people in (no idea who) rather than sacking him and then scrabbling around for whoever's available afterwards
If he's not gone by end of next year then keep him until after the RWC - might be a **** show but dropping someone in to the final stages of RWC prep isn't good, better to just let Borthwick have his time and then draw a line under it afterwards

Borthwick needs to go off and learn to head coach for like 5 seasons he's only 45!

Honestly he could prob get a very good head coach role in France or somewhere and if the RFU handle it well and no bridges burned he could prob be in a very good position to retake the head coach role later

 

[Welsh Exile]

ill start the SB out camp. I saw the pattern with Eddie and was alone in beating the drum until everyone else joined the bandwagon and then it was too late.

SB out, couldn't coach if his life depended on it.

Who do you get to replace him?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

We could do a Wales and get EJ back